Window-screen.



D. D. PINKHAM.

WINDOW SCREEN.

APPLIGATION FILED JULY 3,1913.

1,120,333. PatentedDeo. 8, 1914.

I l i ai'll ATTO RN EY UNITED STATES PATENT ormoa.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

Application filed July 3, 1918. Serial No. 777,288.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that'I, DELMAR D. PINKHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Texarkana in the county of Bowie and State of exas, have invented a new and useful Window-Screen, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in window screens, and its object is to provide a simple form of screen which may be readily applied to windows or other openings and which may be transported in the knock-down condition, and, furthermore, which will represent but a mimium expense to the purchaser.

In accordance with the present invention the screen is provided with end rails only and holding devices are provided for attachment to the window casing, or to an structure to which it is desirable to attac the screen and one of the fastening devices is so constructed that the screen may be put under tension, thus holding it taut with the edges, though unprovided with rails, held tight against the sides of the window casing o r ogher support to which the screen is aplie The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification with the further understanding that while the drawings show a practical form of the invention, the latter is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed and modified so long as such changes and modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention. I

In the drawings :--Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section 0 a screen attached to a frame. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the upper holding device or hanger. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one end of one of the rail members. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of a wire mesh forming the screen. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of a looking or holding member for securing the wire mesh to the body of a rail. Fig. 6 is a detail section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a perspective View of a cam forming part of the tension holding device. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a spring latch member coacting with the cam of Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a frame 1 WhlCh may be taken as indicative of a screen frame or a window frame or any structure to which the screen is to be a plied. Ordinarily the screen is applied rectly to the window frame, but it may be as well applied to a swingin frame at tached by hinges or otherwise a window frame, or the window sashes may be utilized in art to form supports for the screens.

he screen comprises two end rails 2, 3,

respectively, and a piece of wire mesh 4: of

suitable size, the wire mesh being such as is customarily employed in fly screens, but the 7 invention may be employed with any type of screen whether for excluding flies or other insects or even small animals. Each rail 2 and 3 is substantially like the other and ma be made of an elongated strip of metal wit opposite edges 5 and 6 returned upon themselves, the ,edge 6 being somewhat lon er than the edge 5 and preferably oifstanding from the b0 y portion of the rail at a sli ht angle thereto. The returned edges 5 an 6 form 1i s, between which and the body ortion 0 the rail there may be lodge an anchor strip 7 having near one end a struck up rib 8 extending lengthwise of the strip,

this rib not only stiffening and strengthening the strip, but forming a convenient means for the attachment of a loop 9 having the ends extendin through passages 10 in the rib and inturne one toward the other as indicated-at 11, thus anchoring the loop.

The corresponding edge of the web 4 is lodged in the space between the lip 5 and the body portion of the rail, and then the strip 7 is entered between the lips 5 and 6 and the body portion of the rail and moved lengthwise thereof, so as to anchor the web 4 against the lip 5 and the body portion of the rail in a manner which holds the web firmly against escape so long as the stri 7 iily of the ends of the rail. There is also pro-' 110 vided an elongated strip 12 having a longitudinal obtuse angle continuation 13 pro- It is quite evident that where vided with an edge lip 1d at about a right angle to the continuation 13. Sultable passages 15 are provided in both the main body of the strip 12 and the continuation 13 for screws 16 or other suitable fastening devices designed to hold the strip 12 and its continu- .ation 13 to the frame 1 or whatever this frame may represent. The lip 14 is shaped to enter the space between the lip 6 and the body of the rail 2 and to support the latter with the screen 4 in a pendent position. There is also provided a plate 17 having an obtuse angle continuation 18 and an edge lip 19, the latter making about a right angle with the continuation 18. The plate is provided with a perforation 20 and: the continuation 18 has an elongated slot 21 produced therein. The plate 17 and its continuation 18 are formed of spring metal, so that the continuation 18 tends to always set at an angle to the plane of the plate 17, which latter may be secured by a screw 22 passing through the perforation 20 and entering an appropriate portion of the frame 1.

Extending into the frame 1 through the slot 21 is a screw 23 forming a pivot for a cam 24 having an axial passage 25 therethrough, and this cam is provided with a manipulating wing 26. In one position of the cam its nose 27 will engage the plate 17, thus allowing the extension 18 to assume its angle relation to the plate 17, while in another position of the cam the nose 27 bearing on the extension 18 acts to move it toward the adjacent portion of, the frame 1 and into substantial alinement with the plate 17.

The parts are so proportioned that when the screen 4 is hanging pendently from the lip 14 and the cam 24 is inactive to the extension 18, the latter is sufficiently lifted under its spring tendency to permit the lodgment of the lip 6 of the lower rail 3 beneath the extension 18 with the lip 19 overhanging the then upper edge of the lip 6. When the cam 24: is manipulatedto bring it into engagement with the extension 18, thereby depressing the latter, the rail 3 is moved in the same direction, thus bringing the screen 4 under longitudinal strain or tension, and this tension may be great or small as desired, being more or less regulated by the screw 23. The tension is also further regulated by one of the screws 16 holding the strip 12 to the upper part of the frame 1, such screw extending through the passage 15 in the plate continuation 13,

so that the lip- 14 is ata proper relative height and may be raised or lowered by a proper manipulation of the screws passing through the continuation 13. The screws 16 lso provide for a certain adjustment of the screen to make it hang plumb.

The screen is very readily disconnected by a turn of the cam 2d and is as readily masses readjusted by the operation of the cam. llhe top and bottom rails are not at all obtrus1ve, While the absence of side rails avoids any obstruction of view and any disfigurement of a building. Moreover, all the parts may be of metal, thus greatly prolonging the usefulness and life of the screen. The loops 9 form convenient means for manipulating the screen, -while the screen may be wholly removed from the window and the parts disconnected and rolled up into very small compassfor storage or shipment. Should the screen mesh become injured so as to impair its usefulness, it is an easy matter to renew the screen material by simply pulling out the strips or anchor slides 7,

removing the injured screen mesh and replacing it with other screen mesh. However, the liability of injury to the screen mesh is much less than in cases where the mesh is held tight by side rails, for experience has taught that blows which would ordinarily cause a puncturing of the screen mesh have no such effect at all upon the screen mesh when held at the ends only and not along the side edges. The screen, however, is made wide enough to bring the edges of the screen mesh into engagement with the sides of the frame 1 and the tensioning of the screen causes these side edges to closely hug the side edges of the frame 1 Without being permanently attached thereto.

The screen maybe readily attached to the outside of an ordinary window by lowering the upper sash and then fastening the hanger strip 12 to the window frame, hanging the upper rail 2 to such strip, and raising the sash with thescreen mesh outside of the window. Now, by raising the lower sash the latch' plate 17 and cam 24; may be applied, after which the lower rail 3 is hooked under the lip 19 and the camis moved in a direction to put the screen under the desired tension.

The screenof the present invention is a screen of curtain form using only top and bottom rails with a hanger at one end and a latch or catch at the other end and provides a screen wherein the screen web may be readily renewed without the aid of tools and by one unskilled in screen making. The screen parts, aside from the web, are practically indestructible and are adapted to be shipped in the knock-down condition to be put together by the purchaser without requiring special tools or experience, but still producing a screen when installed with the screen web in the taut condition. The lips 5 and 6 of'the rails 2 and 3 define longitudinal channels for the locking strip 7 and also stiffen and strengthen the rails. The flange or lip 14'at the edge of the extension 13 of the hanger strip 12 serves to stiffen this member. 9 v

The screen can be secured to a window with about the same amount of work and requires about the same experience as hanging an'ordinary window shade and can be more readily unhooked and removed from the window. a p I What"s claimed is 1 1 1. A window screen provided with top and bottom rails each 0 av length substantially equal to the width of the screen, a

web to the ends of which the rails are secured, a supporting-member for the'up or rail of the screen" of a length substantia y that of the rail, anda latch member for-the lower rail having a normal tendency toward the unlatched position and provided with means constantly associated therewith for moving the latch member in the other direction to engage and latch the lower rail and at the same time stretch the screen web.

2. A window screen provided with a screen web and end rails, each rail consisting of a strip having the long ed es returned upon themselves to form lips de 'ng channels, a removable locking member for each rail adapted to the'channels to secure the corresponding end of the screen web therein,

and engaging members for the rails having means coacting with a lip of each rail to hold the screen to a window. a s 3. A window screen provided with a screen web and end rails, each rail consisting of a strip having the longedges returned upon themselves to form lips defining channels, a removable locking member for each rail adapted to the channels to secure the corresponding end of the screen web therein, and engaging members for the rails having means coacting with a lip of each rail to hold-the screen to a window, one of the 40 engaging members being movable in the directionfziof the length of the screen to put the web under tension.

4:. A- window screen structure having end rails for a web of screen material, each rail consisting of a strip having the long edges returned upon themselves with the return portion of one edge of greater lateral extentthan' the other and ofistanding from the body portion, and a substantially flat anchor strip adapted to lodge in the firstnamed strip to .lock the corresponding edge of the screen thereto with the body of the secondnamed strip wholly within theconfines of the first-named strip and with the longer side of the first-named strip ofistanding from the second-named strip to an ex tent to provide room for the reception of holding means for the rail.

5. A window screen structure having end rails for a web of screen material, each rail consistingof a strip having the longedges returned upon themselves to form lips and define channels, and a slidable member adapted to the channels to lock the screen to the rail, the slidable strip being formed 7 screen material provided at one end with a rail havin a lip" formed thereon, and a catch mem er of s ring material provided with an obtuse ang e extension terminatin in a substantially ri ht angle flan e adapte to enga e over an behind the dip of the rail, an means for moving the catch in opposition to its elastic tendency.

8. In a window screen structure, a web of screen material provided at one end with a rail having a lip formed thereon, and a catch member of spring material provided with an angle extension terminating in an angle flange adapted to engage the li of the rail, and'means for moving the catc in opposition to its elastic tenderic said means comprising a cam member wit a manipulating portion and a pivot member for the cam. i e

9. A window screen structure comprising a web of screen material, rails at the ends of the web each comprising an elongated strip with the long. edges returned upon themselves to form lips and defining chan nels, a removable locking strip for each rail adapted to the channels to hold the corresponding end of the web in one of the channels, a supporting member for one of the rails comprising an elongated strip having an angle continuation or extension with a marginal. angle flange adapted to engage one of the lips of the corresponding rail to u hold the screen, and a catch member for t e other rail comprising a spring plate bent to form an angle extension with a terminal angle flange adapted to engage a lip of the correspon ing rail, and a cam memher having a manipulating portion and shaped to engage the spring catch to move it against its normal tendency into operative relation to the corresponding rail.

10. A window screen structure comprising a web of screen material, rails at the ends of the web each comprising an elongated strip with the long edges returned upon themselves to form lips and define channels, a removable locking strip for each rail adapted to the channels to hold the corresponding end of the web in one of the channels, a supporting member for one of the rails comprising an elongated strip having an angle continuation or extension with a marginal angle flange adapted to engage one of the lips of the corresponding rail to uphold the screen, and a catch member for Ail] the other reil comprising a; spring plate bent to form an angle extension with a terminal angle flange adeptect to engage a 1i of the corresponding rail, and; e cam mem er 11w ing a manipulating portion and-shaped to engage the spring catch to move it against its normal tendency into operative relation to the corresponding rail, each locking strip for each rail being provided with e longlmeee tudinal stifiening rib, and; e manipulating 10 100p carried. by the rib.

In testimorr that I claim the foregoing as my own, have hereto afixed, my signature in the resence of two Witnesses.

- $ELMAR D. PINKHAM,

Witnesses:

Ammo MARBDAN, KL M. KING. 

